1929 Buffalo Nickel

About This Coin

The 1929 Buffalo Nickel is a United States nickel from the Buffalo Nickels 1913-1938 series — 16th of 23 years in the series. In 1929, coins were struck at the Denver, San Francisco, and Philadelphia Mints with a combined mintage of 52.6 million. This ranks 14th of 23 years by total mintage, above the series median of 48.7 million. The obverse features a composite Native American portrait combining features of three real tribal chiefs — Iron Tail (Lakota), Two Moons (Cheyenne), and John Big Tree (Seneca) and the reverse displays an American bison (often called Black Diamond after the famous bison at the Bronx Zoo) standing on a mound. Minted during and after World War I, as America emerged as a global power and experienced the prosperity of the Roaring Twenties. Struck in 75% copper, 25% nickel, weighing 5 grams, 21.2 mm in diameter, with a plain edge. Collectors have cataloged 12 known die varieties for this date across 3 categories, including doubled die obverse, doubled die reverse, repunched mint mark. Struck two years before the 1931 key date, the lowest-mintage regular issue in the series. Across its variants, estimated values range from $2 to $162 depending on mint mark, grade, and strike type. A notable auction result reached $63K in MS67 grade at Heritage Auctions. Designed by James Earle Fraser.